Before every game he drinks a Red Bull. He gets a pizza from Pizza Hut. During the game, he wears the same white shirt.

Morales even demands that the team's equipment manager wears the same sweatshirt on the sideline - no matter the temperature - that he was wearing when the turnaround began with a win at Orlando on June 24.

He can repeat all those things this weekend in a road game against third-place Portland Thorns FC (7-7-4). Something else he likes to keep as identical as possible will not repeat itself - the players on the field.

The status of several key players is up in the air because of their extensive playing time with their national teams.

Carli Lloyd played 65 minutes Thursday and 90 minutes Sunday for Team USA. Andressinha played 90 minutes on both nights, and Bruna Benites played 72 minutes on Thursday and 90 minutes on Sunday for Brazil.

In addition to that, Morgan Brian has been ruled out with a groin injury.

All that is complicated by the fact that Morales could not have known how much each player would play in Thursday's finale of the Tournament of Nations. And even if he did, there would be minimal time to fill in the internationals on the game plan for Saturday.

"We have to manage it all and make sure we are fit enough," Morales said. "The girls who are on international duty are pros. They'll have to play because we need them to. At the same time, we have to be mindful of them and make sure we take care of them."

With so many players absent from Houston over the last two weeks, the Dash (6-7-2) have had low numbers during training. That makes it virtually impossible to simulate game-like situations.

Janine Beckie is used to being one of the players gone on international duty, but with Canada not invited to the Tournament of Nations, she stayed in Houston. Despite the absences, Beckie said training went well.

"It is about everyone being ready," she said. "This is a great opportunity for some players who haven't seen a ton of minutes this year to get some minutes under their belt. Everyone is looking fresh. Everyone is looking sharp. We're excited."

No matter which players are in the Dash's starting XI, they'll have the confidence of the best form in team history. They are on a six-game unbeaten streak and within four points of fourth place.

They cannot climb into playoff position with a win Saturday, but it would get them closer than they have been all season and serve even more notice to the rest of the league that the team that once resided in last place is one of the teams to beat.

"We're a force to be reckoned with," Beckie said. "I think every team is looking at us like the dark horse, coming through and getting results. Anything less than three points (Saturday) will be a disappointment. We're ready to go into a tough environment and play hard."